About Safe Routes to Health at Michigan Fitness Foundation (SR2H)

Safe Routes to Health (SR2H), an AmeriCorps program administered by the Michigan Fitness Foundation (MFF), was developed by assessing barriers and opportunities to better understand and address unmet health needs in underserved, low-income communities with high obesity rates. Using a multigenerational approach to reach across an entire community, SR2H will connect citizens to health, wellness, and physical activity programs in five Michigan counties: Berrien, Chippewa, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Wayne.

Nutrition programs will follow the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans and will be presented to communities at farmers markets, schools, communities, faith-based organizations, worksites, retail, and health care locations. Recreational programs will follow the CDC Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and will be presented to communities by using local, regional, and state trails, parks, pathways, blueways, and recreation centers.

Through SR2H, communities will work together to increase access to healthy foods and opportunities to practice healthy behaviors, making it easier for health and fitness to be a priority for all residents and empowering them to lead longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives.

During the 2018-2019 program year, 20 half-time (HT) AmeriCorps members – 4 per community – will serve to implement SR2H program components and recruit local community volunteers to create sustainable change.